Apparatus for registering printing rollers, especially for color printing



July 8, 1952 NAVARRE 2,602,237

APPARATUS FOR REGISTERING PRINTING ROLLERS, ESPECIALLY FOR COLOR PRINTING Filed March 17, 1948 INVENTOR ALBERT N P\\1 AR -E BY QSMAMQQMXMX @swufilk ATTORNEYS Patented July 8 119 52 UNlTE D "STATES teammates REGISTERING PRINT; INenoLLEas, ESPECIALLY FOR COLOR PRINTING AlbertNavarrc, Paris, France Application March 17, 1948,.Serial No. 15,316 in France June 20-, 1947 I l i I. I 1 K .This ,invention relates to multiple printing-rollers forcolour printing, map printing and the like.

In the preparationof multiple rollers for colour printing for example, exact registering of areas which are to bear the several colours is essential. The relativepositions of all points common to any one colour must be the same on the several printing rollers. The apparatus of this'invention is designed to Claims. (01. 33-18%) the registering of enable corresponding points-on identically siini 1 lar printing rollers to'be successively registered.

.Accordingto the invention, an apparatus'for registering corresponding points on identically similar printing-rollers; in which the rollers are mounted coaxially forcommon rotation, com o.

prises a sheet of clear glass mounted so that it can be laid tangent to the rollers in a generally horizontal position and having a fiduciary line scribed thereon parallel to the roller axis and coinciding when the glass sheet is in operative position with the line of contact with the rollers, transparenciesso supported that they can be laid on the glass sheet (one over'each roller) and be moved both or all together in the-direction parallel to the roller axis, their axial spacing being 2 adjustable without disturbing their parallelism, each transparency having scribed thereon a :vfiduciary line transverse to the roller axis; and

parallel to the other transverse fiduciary line or lines",-'and alight projector mounted above each 4.:

transparency and throwing a substantially vertical'beam, so that the beams cast sharp shadows of, the several transverse fiduciarylines and of the parts of the axial fiduciary line crossing them and that the intersections of these shadows on thesu'rfaces of the rollers define corresponding.

and 1 the transverse parencies which make contact with the glass sheet. This minimizes parallax and refraction errors. r

The projectors are preferably mounted on a member which is so supported as to be able to slide in the direction parallel to the roller axis, andthe transparencies are adjustably mounted on the sliding member so as to enable their axial as to roll the transfers-off onto the'rollers.

spacing. to be adjusted without disturbing theirparallelism; and the sliding member mayconveniently slide on ,a movable :frame *supporting l the glass sheets; This frame may be mounted'to rock :aboutan axis parallel to the olle-ra-x'is and LhfifillitfibJ-Y counter weighted .;,2

The transparencies may take the form of set squares; and the spacing of their transverse fiduciarylines can be adjusted once. for allfor each operation and remain constant throughout the operation, during which the whole assembly of transverse fiduciary lines is displaced parallel to the roller axis, as required for registering corresponding points at various positions on the rollers.- 7 I The intersections of the projections on the surfaces of the several rollers of the axial fiduciary line scribed on the glass sheet and of the several parallel transversefiduciary lines, beingintersecsections of a substantially vertical plane, similarly-situated withrespect to the several rollers,

with a common generator of the cylindrical'surfaces of all the rollers, define points in re ister with each other on the surfaces 'ofthe several rollers; and by bringing corresponding points of the blocks, transfers, negative or plates formed I on or applied to the surfaces of the several rollers into coincidence with the intersections accurate registering is achieved. I

The invention further includes a particular method of using the abovedescribed apparatus;

for applying transfers in different colours orbearing other complementary impressions to'the several printing rollers in correct register with oneanother (whereby thesubsequent printingoff is facilitated) 1 For this purpose the apparatus further includes provision for relative movement of the lass sheet and rollers, in the direction of rotation of the rollers, enabling rolling contact to be established between the glass sheet and rollers; and the method of applying thetransfers to the rollers comprises the steps of temporarily securing the transfers to the underside of the glass sheet in positions determined by registering corresponding points thereof by the intersections of the optical projections of the fiduciary lines, the glass-sheet being held out of contact with the 'rollers, and then bringing the glass sheet down onto the rollers and applying pressure while the glass sheet and rollers are in rolling contact, so

It Will be understoodthat the apparatus and method of the present invention for registering corresponding points on two or more identically similar printing rollers may be applied not only to colour printing but other analogous types of printing, e. g. :mapi,printing, which call for accurate registering-ofsuperimposed impressions-" -A specific exampleof the apparatus isdescribed lingaloffwhich:

below with reference to the accompanyingdraw- -the tubular member 2| can be rotated by means of a hand wheel I, the

rim of which may bear graduations 8, rotatable against a fixed mark (not shown).

A fiat sheet I2 of clear plate glass spanning both the rollers is supported at its ends inthe side rails II) of a U-shaped rocking frame mounted to rock on the cross bar 9 of a fixed-- bridge, the cross bar being parallel to the shaft 3 and the rocking frame being provided with a counterweight I I for balancing the frame and the equipment supported by it including the glass sheet I2.

Spanning the side rails Iii of the rocking frame isa cross bar |4,.which, too, is parallel to the axis of theroller shaft 3 and the axis 9 on which the rocking frame rocks. A tubular support 2| is mounted to slide lengthwise on the cross bar I4 and carries two transparent set squares I5, I6 which rest on the upper surface of the glass sheet I2 over one and the other of the rollers I, 2. On are rigidly mounted standards carrying light projectors I9, 20 which throw substantially vertical beams down .onto the set squares I5, I6, respectively.

On the underside of the glass sheet I2 is scribed a fiduciary line I3 which is accurately parallel to the axis of the roller shaft 3 and on the undersides of the set squares I5, I8 respectively are scribed fiduciary lines II, I8 which cross the line I3 and are accurately parallel to one another. It is important that'the mutual spacing of the .lines I'I, I8 register with that of the light projectors I9, 20. To enable the mutual spacing of .the lines I'I, I8 to be adjusted without disturbing their parallelism when the apparatus is set in use,

the relative positions of the set squares I5, IIi'v lengthwise of the tubular member 2| may be adjustable. In the'example, shown, the set squares are mounted in a longitudinal slot of the tubular member 2| and one of both of the set squares may be adjustably movable along the slot.

tration:with the related light projector I9 or 20, in order that said associated light reflectors and linesdefine parallel planes P, preferably vertical ones. e

I The light projectors I9, 20 are so placed that their beams are directed onto the fiduciarylines I'I, I8, respectively, where they cross the fiduciary line I3 so as to cast shadows of the crossing portions of these lines onto the surfaces of one and the other of the rollers I and 2. In this way the fiduciary lines are optically projected onto the surfaces of the rollers and the intersections of these projections define points on one and the In this manner the lines II or IB may be set in regis- ,securing saidcylinders against axial'displaceother'of the rollers which are accurately in regislar member 2 I, the set squares I5, I6 and the pro- -jectors I3, 20, willnot affect the attitude of the planes P which remain parallel to;theirinitia1 .cylinders, respectively; a fiduciary line on each of said squares, said fiduciary lines beingparallel jectors.

planes; while the generator I3 (see Figure 2) remains stationary in space as long as the glass sheet I2 is not moved.

It should here be explained that the fiduciary line I3 is so located on the underside of the glass sheet I2 that when the latter is lowered into contact with the rollers, the line I3 coincides with the line of contact. By scribing the line I3 on the underside of the glass sheet I2 and by so locating it with respect to the rollers, its optical projection on the surfaces of the rollers is not affected by parallax or refraction; and since the lines I'I, I8 are scribed on the undersides of the set squares, their optical projections on the rollers are affected by parallax and refraction to the least possible extent. Moreover, the parallax and refraction efiects to which the projections of lines I1 and I 8 are subject are constant, since the relative positions of the projectors I9, 20 and set squares I5, I6 are not affected by endwise displacement of the tubular member 2|, so long as the mutual spacing of the set squares and their fiduciary lines I I, I8 is not disturbed.

Successive registering of corresponding points on the surfaces of rollers I and 2 is achieved by rotating the shaft 3 and sliding the tubular member 2| to bring the intersection of the optical projections of fiduciary lines I3 and I1 into coincidence with a given point on the surface of roller I. The corresponding intersection of the optical projections of fiduciary lines I3 and I8 on the roller 2 will then define the position 01 the corresponding point on the surface of roller 2 enabling it to be correctly registered. The procedure is then repeated for another point on the surface of roller I, and so on.

In order to achieve high accuracy. of registering, suitable optical devices could be provided for viewing the intersections of the projections of the fiduciary lines. Similarly, the movement of the tubular member 2| along the cross bar I4 and the rotation of the shaft 3 could be regulated by'means of micrometer devices. r

. For'simultaneously registering three or more printing rollers, the apparatus. could be modified by making the shaft 3 long enough to accommodatethe greater number of rollers and by 'providingthetubular member 2| with once!" more additional set squares each bearing a transverse fiduciary line and an additional projector or pro- Intermediate pedestal bearings for the shaft 3 could be provided, as required, to prevent the shaft from sagging owing to its greatlength.

- What I claim is: r

1. Apparatus for registering printing rollers,

' especially for colour printing, comprising in com bination: a pluralityof removable printing cylinders, each corresponding, to a separate colour in the print to be obtained, respectively coaxially arranged along a common axis; stop means for ment; a support extending parallel to said common axis; a rocking frame pivotally mounted on said support; a glass sheet attached to saidframe adapted to rest on said cylinders; a fiduciary line on saidglass sheet, parallel to said common axis; a plurality of transparent squares resting on said glass sheet equal in number to said cylinders, and

rigidly spaced with respect to each other in an amount equal to the spacing between the related to each other and out of parallelism with said first-mentioned line on said glass sheet; a sliding support for said squares; guiding means'for said sliding support, attached to said rocking frame and parallel to said common axis; a plurality of light projectors each associated with a related one of said squares; and supporting means for said light projectors attached to said sliding sup port.

2. Apparatus for registering printing rollers, especially for colour printing, comprising in combination: a plurality of removable printing cylinders, each corresponding to a different colour in the print to be obtained, and coaxially arranged along a common axis; stop means for securing said cylinders against axialdisplacement; a support extending parallel to said common axis; a rocking frame pivotally mounted on said support; a glass sheet attached to said frame adjacent said cylinders; a fiduciary line on said glass sheet parallel to said common axis; a plurality of transparent squares resting on said glass sheet, whose number is equal to that of said cylinders; a fiduciary line on each of said squares, said fiduciary lines being parallel to each other, respectively, and out of parallelism with said fiduciary line on said glass sheet; a sliding support on said frame; guiding means for said sliding support attached to said frame and parallel to said common axis; a plurality of light projectors whose number is equal to the number of said squares and of said cylinders; supporting means for said light projectors attached to said sliding support; and a longitudinal notch in said sliding support receiving said squares whereby the positions thereof with respect to the related light projectors may be accurately determined.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said support parallel tosaid common axis is located substantially in the horizontal plane through the top line of said cylinders.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first-mentioned fiduciary line is drawn on the under surface of said glass sheet, thereby lying in close contact with said cylinders when said glass sheet is in operative position, whereby any parallax error is minimized.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said fiduciary lines on said transparent squares are drawn on the under surface thereof in contact with said glass sheet, whereby any parallax error is minimized.

. ALBERT NAVARRE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,562,752 Fraser Nov. 24, 1925 1,761,863 Bassist June 3, 1930 1,860,361 Huebner May 31, 1932 2,034,529 Olsen Mar. 17, 1936 2,095,542 Claybourn Oct. 12, 1937 

